Russ A. Kuker, M.D.

Dr. Russ A. Kuker is an Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where he specializes in nuclear medicine, PET/CT, and oncologic imaging. He has been a faculty member since 2008 and currently practices across the University of Miami Health System, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Dr. Kuker earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology, summa cum laude with departmental and general honors, from the University of Miami, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to complete his medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine before pursuing a preliminary surgical internship at Orlando Regional Medical Center. He then trained in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, completing residency in 2008.

Board-certified by both the American Board of Radiology and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Kuker has built a career at the intersection of diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and theranostics. He is recognized for his expertise in PET/CT imaging for lymphoma, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors, and his scholarship has advanced imaging biomarkers and theranostic approaches in oncology.

Dr. Kuker has published extensively in high-impact journals, including The Lancet Haematology, Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Clinical Nuclear Medicine. His work has focused on the use of PET/CT as a prognostic and diagnostic tool in hematologic malignancies, the integration of artificial intelligence into imaging workflows, and applications of molecular imaging in thyroid and prostate cancer. He has also co-authored multiple book chapters and delivered invited lectures nationally and regionally on nuclear medicine and theranostics.

At the University of Miami, Dr. Kuker plays a key role in multidisciplinary cancer care. He is an active member of tumor boards in lymphoma, neuroendocrine, pancreas, thyroid, and genitourinary oncology, providing imaging expertise that directly guides patient management. In 2023, he was appointed Director of the Theranostics Program in Nuclear Medicine, where he leads efforts to integrate diagnostic imaging with targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies.

Dr. Kuker is deeply committed to education, serving as a mentor to radiology residents, fellows, and medical students. He received the Henry H. Lerner Award for Teaching Excellence from the Department of Radiology in recognition of his outstanding contributions to trainee education. His mentorship has also extended to guiding senior resident research projects in PET/CT imaging, lymphoma, and dosimetry.

Through his leadership in clinical practice, research, and education, Dr. Kuker continues to advance the field of nuclear medicine and theranostics, helping to position the University of Miami as a leader in precision imaging and targeted therapies.